too much education in the field of english

Mom: I read Olive Kitteridge.
Me: It's a book of short stories, right? About the same characters?
Mom: No, it's a novel.
Me: But that was the big thing when it won - what? - the Pulitzer? That it was a short story collection for once.
Mom: Well, it was all the same characters. Like different bits and pieces of their life.
Me: So, like vignettes?
Mom: Honey, what the hell do I know about vignette?
Me: I don't know.
Mom: Yes, it has the flavor of vignette...